SIGNS
AND WONDERS ON EARTH
THE
16 LION'S GATEWAYS ALONG
THE
FIVE ANCIENT TRADE ROUTES
Beginning
at Yankee Ridge (The tail of the dove borders):
LION'S GATE (#1
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Piatt Co. -
Monticello Twp. - AT 1200 N and 800 E
LEFT = toward Voorhies, and RIGHT = toward Milmine.
BETWEEN GATE #1
and GATE #2 just keep following the somewhat contiguous ridgeline (or
progression of summits from Summit alond IL 105 to
the Macon Shelby Co. Line Road) and lying in between the Kaskaskia (SE) and N.
Fork of Sangamon (NW) Rivers).
LION'S GATE (#2
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Macon Co. -
Milam Twp. - AT 100 N and 1750 E,
STRAIGHT AHEAD =
toward Moweaqua, and RIGHT = toward the north of Macon (village) and then West
between Mosquito Creek and Dry Branch, then West between Mosquito Creek and
Brown Branch (south of Blue Mound) then West toward Stonington and then
dividing on each side of Buckhart Creek, both
proceeding Northwestward to Mt. Auburn and Taylorville areas.
BETWEEN GATE #2
and GATE #3 just keep following the somewhat contiguous ridgeline (or
progression of summits from the Summit on the Shelby-Macon Co. Line Road (N) at
1400E (Shelby) and Hilvety Rd. (Macon) and lying in
between the Kaskaskia (SE) and N. Fork of Sangamon (NW) Rivers).
LION'S GATE (#3
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Shelby Co. -
Pickaway Twp. - AT 2600 N and 1300 E
LEFT = between Wilborn Creek (N.) and Robinson Creek (S.) toward Findlay,
and STRAIGHT AHEAD = between Flat Branch (W. or the S. FORK SANGAMON)
and Robinson Creek toward Yantisville. And then on Southward to Westervelt where
the Highway turns and proceeds almost due West toward Assumption.
BETWEEN GATE #3
and GATE #4 just keep following the somewhat contiguous ridgeline (or
progression of summits).
LION'S GATE (#4
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Shelby Co. -
Rural Twp. - AT 1600 N and 700 E (W. of Dollville)
LEFT = between
Mud Creek and Beck's Creek toward Tower Hill and WILL HILL, and RIGHT =
to Pana.
BETWEEN GATE #4
and GATE #5 just keep following the somewhat contiguous ridgeline (or
progression of summits toward Pana).
LION'S GATE (#5
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Christian Co. -
Rosamond Twp. - AT 275 N and 2200 E
LEFT = between
Coal Creek and Ramsey Creek toward Oconee and on to Pryce Cemetery, Ramsey and
Dresser Prairie, and STRAIGHT AHEAD = toward Rosamond.
BETWEEN GATE #5
and GATE #6 just keep following the somewhat contiguous ridgeline (or
progression of summits).
LION'S GATE (#6
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Christian Co. -
Rosamond Twp. - AT 175 N and 2075 E
STRAIGHT AHEAD =
toward the Dairy Barns and White Settlement Community Center, and RIGHT =
around the end of the Main Ditch of Flat Branch draining to the Northeast and
between it and Cotton Creek toward Owaneco.
BETWEEN GATE #6
and GATE #7 just keep following the somewhat contiguous ridgeline (or
progression of summits).
LION'S GATE (#7
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Montgomery Co. -
Audubon Twp. - AT 2150 N and 2650 E
STRAIGHT AHEAD = (Southwest)
toward the Old 250' Microwave Tower S. of Nokomis, then continuing to 1300 N
& 2140 E and branching LEFT toward Bald Knob and Fillmore, and Straight
Ahead to the ancient city located today where 1850 intersects 800 N and also
continuing to near Van Burensburg (an island) at 250
N and 2150 E in Montgomery Co and S. Fillmore Twp. where the Atlantic Ocean's
ancient shoreline has since receded away by nthe Hand
of Yahweh. The southernmost peninsula (Phoenicia) extended Southward
to today's Mulberry Grove Twp. unto the Radio Towers off the NW side of Woburn
Road. Back on the Original High Way or Trade Route at Montg. Co. Audubon Twp. at 2150 N
& 250 E at GATE 7 - 1) The Grand
Trunk (NE to Damascus), 2) Coastal Route (SW as herein described
above), and 3) The Ridge Route (NW toward today's Cass Co., Bluff
Springs Twp. at Shiloh Knob Road (1600 E) and 950 N to the East of Beardstown
about 10 miles). The ancient Ridge Route led also into that same place as
Ancient Goshen wherein the Brick Factories were located. The Mainland of Egypt
was across the IL River and between it and the Mighty Mississippi. and Northward even
all the way to the Great Lakes. The Ridge Route also extended Westward unto
Cass Co., Arenzville Twp. at Kircher
and 330 N Road.
BETWEEN GATE #7
and GATE #8 TURN RIGHT ONTO RIDGE ROUTE and just keep
following the progression of summits that lead West near the twin-quarries
North of Nokomis and through Wenonah. Then proceeding Southwest toward Witt and
around the headwaters toward the right of the S. Fork of Sangamon River at 2100
N and 2000E then turning RIGHT and then LEFT around the East Fork of Shoal
Creek to Gate #8.
LION'S GATE (#8
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Montgomery Co. -
Nokomis Twp. - AT 2150 N and 1950 E
LEFT = entering into
the peninsula formed between today's East Fork of Shoal Creek and its Middle
Fork (toward Irving). This coastal area enters into the East Side of the land
of the legendary Fire-breathing Dragon's Lair just South
of Hillsboro. The highway S. of GATE #8 extends to just N. of Witt and parting there toward the
RIGHT to the Big Mound/Ancient City located at 1600 N and 1475 E in Irving
Twp., and to the LEFT to mounds one near Irving and another near Taylor
Springs. Turning RIGHT in Nokomis Twp. toward the NW and
direction of Morrisonville and in between GATE #8 and GATE #9 just keep
following the progression of summits and in between South Fork on the E. and
Middle Fork of Shoal Creek on the (W.) to the Christian-Montgomery Co. Line at
950 E (Christian) or 1850 E (Montgomery) to Gate #9.
LION'S GATE (#9
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Christian Co. -
Greenwood Twp. - AT 00 N and 975 E
LEFT = toward Gate #
10, and RIGHT = between Miller Branch and Cotton Creek Northward to the
ancient coast near 1200 N in Christian Co. and Johnson Twp.
BETWEEN GATE #9
and GATE #10 just keep following the progression of summits to the LEFT at Gate
#9 and heading due W. on the Co. Line to 1550 E (Montg.
Co) and curving S. to the intersection of 2300 N and 1500 E.
Then W. 3 miles and S. one mile to Gate #10).
LION'S GATE (#10
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Montgomery
Co. - Rountree Twp. - AT 2200 N and 1250 E toward the
E. of Raymond.
LEFT = and in
between Middle Fork of Shoal Creek (E.) and West Fork of Shoal Creek (W) toward
Ware's Grove and Butler, and RIGHT = toward Harvel.
BETWEEN GATE #10
and GATE #11 follow the progression of summits toward the Northwest and also
toward Harvel and Farmersville.
LION'S GATE (#11
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Montgomery Co. -
Harvel Twp. - AT 2800 N and 700 E
LEFT = toward
Ethiopia or today's Litchfield, Staunton, Brighton, and Godfrey, and STRAIGHT
AHEAD = toward Farmersville.
BETWEEN GATE #11
and GATE #12 follow progression of summits to 3200 N at 400 E in Bois D'Arc Twp. and then continuing NW between Horse Creek on
the E. and Macoupin Creek on the W. and then curving W. toward the Montgomery
and Macoupin County Line along the Thomasville-Virden Blacktop. and then curving
Southward around the headwaters of Brush Creek (N.) and Macoupin Creek on the
S. to Kimes Road and Crown Two Mine Road at Gate #
12.
LION'S GATE (#12
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Macoupin Co. -
Virden Twp. - AT Kimes Road and Crown Mine 2 Road.
LEFT = or Southward
through Girard, Greenridge, Nilwood,
parting SSE to Coops Mound and SSW to mounds in South Otter and Carlinville
Townships, and RIGHT = toward the NW and village of Virden near
the ancient battleground where an ancient war is still artifactually
proven to this day.
To travel from
GATE #12 to GATE #13 follow the summits toward Virden about 3-4 miles to Rte. 4
at Thomasville Road or downtown Virden. The RIDGE ROUTE had a pass that crossed
(straight ahead) Sugar Creek (draining NE from near Virden) as a shortcut that
saved a considerable detour. When the creek was raised by flood waters there
was no alternative route and therefore the RIDGE ROUTE turned toward the
Southwest from downtown Virden and went arong Horse
Creek on the N.about 5-6 miles to today's Neff Road
and Jones Road there it turned North to Town Hall Road at Davis Road and then
Northwestward to the Three County Corner of Macoupin, Sangamon, and Morgan
Counties to Gate #13.
LION'S GATE (#13
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Macoupin Co. -
North Otter Twp. - to the corner of Macoupin, Sangamon, and Morgan Counties.
STRAIGHT AHEAD = was toward
Gate #14, and LEFT = to the large Mound just SE. of Scottsville.
To travel from
GATE #13 to GATE #14 follow the ridge Northwest and passing along the W. Fork
of Otter Creek (E.) and Sugar Creek (E.) to Thayer Road at the Morgan-Sangamon
County Line and turning RIGHT in to Sangamon Co. and Talkington
Twp. and turning LEFT (or NW) on the Ridge near Caruthers Road and Green Road
and continuing NW through Waverly and into Morgan Co. to Colwell and Burnett in
RD 9 Twp. and then continuing NW to McCarty Road and Loami
Road to Gate #14.
LION'S GATE (#14
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Morgan
Co. - RD 9 Twp. - at McCarty Road and Loami Road.
LEFT = toward
Clements until the ridge divides toward the NW toward The Mound (with radio
towers) near SW of Jacksonville and toward the SW toward Manchester through
Roodhouse to the Big Point in the center of Walkerville
Twp. of Morgan Co., and RIGHT = toward Gate #15.
To travel from
GATE #14 to GATE #15 continue along the ridgeline N. of McCarty Road and Loami Road toward the right of Alexander and crossing US Rte 36 near Cockin Road and then
passing just E. of N. Mauvaise Terre Creek to the
mound in the very NE corner of RD 8 Twp. to Gate # 15.
LION'S GATE (#15
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Morgan
Co. - RD 9 Twp. - at McCarty Road and Hermes Road.
STRAIGHT AHEAD = is Gate #16,
and RIGHT = toward Springfield in betqeen
L:ick Creek (S.)
and Spring Creek
(N.).
To travel from
#15 to GATE #16 continue Northward out of RD 9 and into RD8 Twp. - About a
half-mile N. of Old State Road (Old Jacksonville Road) due W. of Springfield to
Gate # 16.
LION'S GATE (#16
of 16 - Couched from lack of use):
Morgan Co. - RD8
Twp. - About a half-mile N. of Old State Road (Old Jacksonville Road) due W. of
Springfield).
STRAIGHT AHEAD = toward
Ashland, Burlingame, Virginia and Panther Creek State Park, and LEFT
= in between N. Mauvaise Terre Creek and Indian Creek
and W. toward Sinclair, Strawn's Crossing to Bethel near Chapin on Rte 104.